Bill of Interest HB0513/SB1105

March 10th, 2009 by Commissioner Walker

There has been a bill of interest filed in both the House and Senate of the Tennessee State Legislature.  HB0513/SB1105.  The State Comptrollers office has the cost of this bill at over $5,000,000 to local governments.  The interesting part of this bill is that it would be back dated to July 1, 2007 and end July 1, 2009.

"AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 29, Chapter 20, relative to governmental tort liability.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 29-20-403(b)(4), is amended by deleting the final sentence and by substituting instead the following:

The provisions of this subdivision (b)(4) shall apply to any action arising on or after July 1, 2007, but before July 1, 2009.

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 29-20-403(b), is amended by adding the following language as a new, appropriately designated subdivision:

(5) Minimum limits of not less than four hundred twenty-five thousand dollars ($425,000) for bodily injury or death of any one (1) person in any one (1) accident, occurrence or act; and not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) for bodily injury or death of all persons in any one (1) accident, occurrence or act; and not less than one hundred forty thousand dollars ($140,000) for injury or destruction of property of others in any one (1) accident, occurrence or act. The provisions of this subdivision (b)(5) shall apply to any action arising on or after July 1, 2009.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring"

Posted in State, Tort Limits | Comments Off

Beer Board

February 13th, 2009 by Commissioner Walker
Effective Tuesday Evening I resigned from the Blount County Beer Board.  This was due to the recent legislation that was brought to light concerning commissioner serving on committees to which they appoint.  I am interested in knowing "IF" there is a possibility of appointing a resident to this committee is there someone within the 8th Commission District who would consider serving or you may like to see serve on this committee.

As always I look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Mike

Posted in Commission, Committee | Comments Off

411 North Rezoning

February 11th, 2009 by Commissioner Walker
Just a quick note on the 411 North Rezoning request.

This item has been pulled from the Commission agenda indefinitely.  Rumor is there will be a residential development go in on the property.

Posted in Planning, Zoning | Comments Off

Question of the Month

January 28th, 2009 by Commissioner Walker
Realizing that each have their own concerns the following survey is to see where some may lay.

Posted in Survey | Comments Off

Changes to the Ethics Committee

January 11th, 2009 by Commissioner Walker
Good Evening!

I was able to attend the Blount County Ethics committee's meeting last Monday, 01/05/2009.  During the committee meeting there was a discussion about changing the committee make up to include 2 citizens or possibly to be made up of all citizens.  While this is an idea to be discussed, I would also like to see a couple of other changes to be discussed as well.

  1. That when a complaint is brought to the committee, whether it changes or not, that the complaint be discussed solely based on the alleged transgression without the identity of the person being divulged. 
  2. When a decision is rendered and the ruling decided that it be entered into the policy for future infractions to be handle accordingly.
  3. After the ruling is official as to handle the particular case in question then the identity and the person against whom the charge is made would be handled according to the policy as written.
I would like to hear your input on this idea.

Thanks as always!

Mike

Posted in Change, Commission, Ethics | Comments Off

Family Businesses and Rezoning

January 9th, 2009 by Commissioner Walker
Good Afternoon!

With the recent discussion related to the rezoning of properties on both 411 and Montvale Road.  I have a question and I am seeking input.  Family businesses for many years have been a backbone of both employment and taxes in Blount County.  When zoning came along these business, many of which, were located out in the county and in what one would consider residential areas. 

As our County grows so do these family businesses, I mean they are local and have a interest in the local economy and contribute to the local economy as well.

How are these businesses supposed to grow?  Where are they supposed to grow?  Are they supposed to grow?

Please feel free to chime in as I intend to bring this discussion up before the County Commission soon.

Thanks!

Mike


Posted in Planning, Rezoning | Comments Off

Hotel/Motel Tax Increase and 2 Rezoning request on Sevierville Road and Ridge Road

December 16th, 2008 by Commissioner Walker
Afternoon!

The increase in the Hotel/Motel Tax and 2 rezoning request seem to be the hot items on this months agenda.

The first is a request to amend a private act which enacts a hotel/motel tax for Blount County.  Currently Blount County has a 4% tax on lodging, Maryville and Alcoa have amended this legislation to go 1% above the amount placed by Blount County. 

The requested increase is to move to 5% on the County based tax which would mean that for Maryville and Alcoa it would go to a total of 6%.

The additional 1% would go toward the purchase of property located beside the current Townsend visitors center which the visitors bureau has had a 1st right of refusal on for approximately the last 2 years.  After the property is paid for the tax would remain and be designated to go toward advertising or increasing tourism in the Townsend area.

This discussion should be interesting.

Next the rezoning on Sevierville road, the property in question is where the holding pond was constructed by the City of Maryville.  Due to reasons beyond their control the city was not able to use the property for the reasons intended.  The property was sold and now there is a request for the property to be rezoned so the zoning will allow the intended use.

Ridge Road rezoning request, this request involves the property which adjoins the current property of Blount Excavating, there have been several residents who have called and attended meetings related to this request and I am interested to see what the commissioners who represent this area have to say during the debate on Thursday night.

As always feel free to drop a note with your thought of these or any item appearing on the Blount County Commission Agenda.

mike@commissionerwalker.com

Posted in Planning, taxes | Comments Off

To Be or Not To Be…..This is the question!

November 21st, 2008 by Commissioner Walker
Continue or not?

CommissionerWalker.com blog is drawing near its 1 year anniversary and with this comes time to renew or not. The question of the day Should the CommissionerWalker.com blog continue to exist or should it fade by the way side?


Posted in blog | Comments Off

Commission Meeting 11/20/2008

November 17th, 2008 by Commissioner Walker
The Blount County Commission is schedule to meet 11/20/2008 to discuss several matters including the possible purchase of the Cerama Speed  property, several Zoning matters and other issues.  Below is the agenda as it currently stands, weigh in on a item that is of interest to you.

AGENDA

BLOUNT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2008, 7:00 P.M.

A. PRAYER – Rev. Willa Estell – St. Paul AME Zion Church.

B. PLEDGE – Durward Swanson, Past President of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

C. ROLL CALL.

D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

1. October 16, 2008 meeting.

2. November 6, 2008 zoning public hearing.

3. November 6, 2008 work session.

E. “BEST OF BLOUNT.”

1. Paul Bales – Empty Pantry Fund.

F. RESOLUTIONS FOR SPECIAL RECOGNITION, MEMORIALS, ETC.

G. PUBLIC INPUT ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.

H. ELECTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND CONFIRMATIONS:

1. Approval of Deputy Sheriff and Notary Public bonds and oaths.

2. Election of Notaries.

3. Approval of results of November 4, 2008 election.

4. Election of members to boards and committees:

a. John Lamb, James Tomiczek, Bill Dunlap, and Randy Ailey – Ad Hoc Committee for Organized

Events.

b. Lamar Dunn and Clifford Walker – Planning Commission.

c. Patrick O’Hara and Leon Williams – Board of Construction Appeals.

d. Maribel Koella and Tommy Enos – Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau.

e. James C. Fiegle – Blount Memorial Hospital Board of Directors.

5. Establishment and appointment of ad hoc committee to study jail overcrowding.

I. REPORTS - COUNTY OFFICIALS, STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES:

1. Report of Budget Committee:

a. Monthly report.

b. Budget transfers:

General County Fund - $4,743.00.

General Purpose School Fund - $144,700.00.

c. Budget increases/decreases:

General County Fund - $25,000.00.

General Purpose School Fund - $279,745.00.

General Purpose School Fund - $15,000.00.

d. Other Budget Committee items:

Resolution authorizing the purchase of county property.

Resolution of the governing body of Blount County, Tennessee, authorizing the issuance, sale,

and payment of capital outlay notes not to exceed $700,000.00.

2. Report of Education Committee.

3. Report of Animal Control Committee.

4. Report of Expo Committee.

5. Report of Ethics Committee.

6. Any other committee reports.

J. SETTING OF AGENDA.

K. UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

L. NEW BUSINESS:

1. Beer Board:

a. First reading for on premises Beer Permit application of Blackberry Farms, LLC.

2. Discussion and possible action regarding transfer of Sheriff’s Department Training Facility property to E-

911 Board.

3. Discussion and possible action regarding schedule of reasonable charges for copies of public records.

4. Zoning:

a. Resolution to amend the Zoning Map of Blount County, Tennessee, from Rural District 1 (R-1) to

Rural Arterial Commercial (RAC) for property located at 4421 Hwy 411 South, being Tax Map 89,

Parcels 112.0 and 110.03.

b. Resolution to amend the Zoning Map of Blount County, Tennessee, from Suburbanizing (S) to

Commercial (C) for property located at 2733 East Broadway, being Tax Map 37g, Group C, Parcel

37.00.

c. Resolution to amend the Zoning Map of Blount County, from Suburbanizing (S) to Commercial

(C) for the property located at the corner of East Lamar Alexander Parkway and Tuckaleechee

Pike, being Tax Map 48, Parcel 141.00.

d. Resolution to amend the Zoning Regulations of Blount County, to Section 9.1B, 9.2B, and 9.3B.

e. Resolution to amend the Zoning Regulations of Blount County, to section 9.10B.

5. Discussion and possible action regarding stormwater resolutions.

M. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND STATEMENTS.

N. PUBLIC INPUT ON ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA.

Posted in Commission, Highway Department, Jail, buying, spending | Comments Off

Ad Hoc Committee Responsibilities Expanded

October 19th, 2008 by Commissioner Walker
Well, Good Evening!

The Blount County Commission has expanded the responsibilities and duties of the adhoc Buffers Committee.  The members have now been charged with reviewing all pasted and future storm water related policies, incorporating them into a all incompassing policies rather that separate policies. 

While I agree with the overall thought of one policies to address Storm Water controls, I am a little concerned with the expanded duties of the committee.  We will attempt to stay on task and address what we have been charged to address.

The committee is scheduled to meet on November 3, 2008 at 5:00pm in the large commission room.  I will attempt to begin gathering all documents that we are charged with addressing and start posting them here.

mike@commissionerwalker.com

Posted in Planning, Policies, stream buffers | Comments Off

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »